My wife bought some Govee Smart LED string lights. We have VLANs setup in our house to isolate IoT devices and setup the new lights on that WiFi. But when we use the app to control them it requires an account and precise and “while using app” location data. The app does not work at all without enabling permissions for location.

Am I being paranoid? This wasn’t an initial setup thing the app is unusable without location enabled.

She really wants smart LED lights for outside the house. Is there an option anyone knows of that might be a bit more privacy oriented?

Thanks.

  • Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de
    14·
    2 days ago

    Unfortunately, it’s probably for Bluetooth, as those permissions seem to be linked.

    But, for lights, if you’re handy, look into xlights / fpp, it’s the software that some holiday lightshow people use, and it’s great, but involved. Similarly, wled software runs on esp32 chips and can control lights, but again, you need to be handy enough to set it up.

    Edit: home assistant seems to have created access to the local API for govee, https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/govee_light_local/ but that still might be more than you want to deal with.

    • Policeshootout@lemmy.caOP
      2·
      1 day ago

      Thanks I will look into those products as well as Home Assistant. I’ve yet to pull the trigger on installing HA, I don’t have a lot of devices that have made me want to use it yet. We only have a couple Google speakers and Chromecasts.

  • FeelzGoodMan420@eviltoast.orgEnglish
    0·
    1 day ago

    I’ve used govee stuff before and it absolutely did NOT require an account. Just the app. Are you sure you have that right?

    • Policeshootout@lemmy.caOP
      1·
      9 hours ago

      The lights we have definitely require the app and an account to get them to do anything other than solid white.